Background
Bariatric surgery, especially Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (RYGB) is the most effective and durable treatment option for population with severe obesity. The mechanisms involving adipose tissue may be important to explain the effects of surgery.
Methods
We aimed to identify the genetic signatures of adipose tissue in patients undergoing RYGB. We evaluated 13 obese, non-diabetic patients (mean age 37 years, 100% women, Body mass index (BMI) 42.2 kg/m2) one day before surgery, 3 and 6 months (M) after RYGB.
Results
Analysis of gene expression in adipose tissue collected at surgery compared with samples collected at 3M and 6M Post-RYGB showed that interleukins (Interleukin 6, Tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), and Monocyte chemoattractant protein-1(MCP1)) and endoplasmic reticulum stress (ERS) genes (Eukaryotic translation initiation factor 2 alpha kinase 3 (EIF2AK3) and Calreticulin (CALR)) decreased during the follow-up (P ≤ 0.01 for all). Otherwise, genes involved in energy homeostasis (Adiponectin and AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK)), cellular response to oxidative stress (Sirtuin 1, Sirtuin 3, and Nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (NRF2)), mitochondrial biogenesis (Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma coactivator 1-alpha (PGC1α)) and amino acids metabolism (General control nonderepressible 2 (GCN2)) increased from baseline to all other time points evaluated (P ≤ 0.01 for all). Also, expression of Peroxisome proliferator activated receptor gamma (PPARϒ) (adipogenesis regulation) was significantly decreased after RYGB (P < 0.05) We also observed a strong positive correlation between PGC1α, SIRT1 and AMPK with BMI at 3M (P ≤ 0.01 for all) and ADIPOQ and SIRT1 with BMI at 6M (P ≤ 0.01 for all).
Conclusions
Our findings demonstrate that weight loss is associated with amelioration of inflammation and ERS and increased protection against oxidative stress in adipose tissue. These observations are strongly correlated with a decrease in BMI and essential genes that control cellular energy homeostasis, suggesting an adaptive process on a gene expression level during the caloric restriction and weight loss period after RYGB.